Potentially Utah could be bracing for Hayward's huge contract, and therefore doesn't want to add a big salary player and dump guys on rookie contracts.
But man, put the big boy pants on and go compete. Hood/Burks/Exum for Jimmy Butler. Makes sense from a personnel stand point, salaries work, and Chicago gets back not one, but two decent/good prospects on rookie contracts, and another young, solid player on a good contract. Other than a guaranteed top 5 lottery pick (like from Boston), I'm not sure what more they could be asking for.
That starting 5 will give Golden State absolute fits. Way, way, way bigger team and they would finally have a go-to crunch time scorer.
I'm seeing too many teams, where their window to drastically improve is right now, while their younger players are cheap, pass up a chance because they are afraid of getting too good too fast. Sack the fuck up, take on the Golden State challenge, and go fucking compete.
No reason Utah shouldn't be beating down Chicago's door for Butler except for cheapness and/or fear of it not being enough to beat Golden State. It's a competition, boys. Compete.
EDIT: I'm really fired up about Utah. You are 31-19 team on the cusp of being a fringe contender. You've got the best defensive big man in the league. You've got a young star at small forward who is one of the more versatile players in the league.
For the love of God, trade for Jimmy Butler and take one, giant leap into true contender status. Please. Stop being ok with just having a nice, good team. Go for the glory.
Hood/Burks/Exum for Butler? If I'm the Bulls, I would never accept anything close to that. Someone else will give them a far better deal. Butler's a top 10 player in the league on a great contract.
I don't think the Jazz could put together an attractive enough package without Hayward being involved. Gobert's not getting traded. I'm not taking Favors, Burks, and other random guys for Butler. I don't want Utah's picks either, as they'd just end up being in the lower 20's.
If the Bulls are moving Butler, seems like Utah, Chicago, and Boston could be really good trade partners.
Bulls get:
2017 Nets 1st
Smart
Brown
Jerebko
Celtics get:
Hayward
Hood
Jazz get:
Butler
Bulls get the pick they covet, two young guys to build with, and some expiring money. This move would end up clearing $9 mill off the cap the next two years.
Celtics get Hayward, a guy that fits great in there lineup and obviously already has a tremendous relationship with the head coach. They are potentially able to sign him in the off-season in FA, but by trading now they'd have him for this year's playoff run and also acquire a good young SG/SF in the process. A Bradley, Hood, Hayward, Crowder, Horford lineup would be TOUGH.
Utah gets a top 3 SG/SF. They might not like including Hood, but there's a big time risk Hayward is gone at the end of the year. They'd be getting a top 10 player in the league who's locked into an incredibly team friendly deal for the next three seasons. Burks is working his way back from in injury.
Hill, Burks, Butler, Favors, and Gobert would be pretty nasty. That starting 5 would be a nightmare for GSW. Then you still have Ingles, Mack, Lyles, JJ, Diaw, and Exum off the bench. Damn. That team would kind of be a monster. Would be interesting to see what Quinn got out of that group.
Also, by making this move the Jazz avoid paying Hayward one of the big time new Max deals. George Hill is a free agent and they can free up $7.5 mill more by not exercising Diaw's option. That'd mean they could go into free agency with approximately $21 mill to spend and Butler & Gobert on long-term, team friendly contracts.
One of the rare instances where a 3-team trade actually makes sense. Who says no to this?
